WWE fans may soon see the return of one of the most physically dominant forces in the industry as the road to the Royal Rumble begins. Jacob Fatu has been noticeably absent from television for the last couple of months.
A new Fightful Select reports that the Samoan Werewolf is currently backstage today’s SmackDown, which is being held at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany. Sources close to the situation suggest that he is in excellent physical condition and is ready to make his presence felt once again.
Fatu was last seen on WWE programming in October 2025, where he was written off television following a brutal segment. On the October 17 episode of SmackDown, Fatu was discovered backstage covered in blood with several of his teeth lying on the floor after an attack by an unknown assailant. While the angle was presented as an injury, it was actually executed to allow Fatu to step away for a legitimate dental procedure. Since that time, the identity of his attacker has remained a mystery, leaving a significant storyline thread open for his eventual comeback.
Fatu was written off television following an angle on the October 17 episode of SmackDown where he was attacked backstage. The segment featured Fatu being discovered with a bloody mouth and some of his teeth lying on the floor. It was reportedly done to cover for a legitimate medical need. Bodyslam.net previously reported that the angle was executed to take Fatu off television so he could undergo a dental procedure.
Management reportedly has massive plans for the SmackDown star as he enters 2026. Internal discussions suggest that WWE officials want Fatu to have a “breakthrough year” and continue his ascent as a franchise star.
The January 9 episode of SmackDown in Berlin is headlined by a Three Stages of Hell match for the Undisputed WWE Championship between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. The show also features an eight-man tag match pitting The Wyatt Sicks against the MFTs (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, and JC Mateo). Given Fatu’s previous history with both The Bloodline and Drew McIntyre, his presence backstage in Germany has sparked intense curiosity among WWE fans regarding where he might fit into the current landscape.
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